Marvin "Popcorn" Sutton

Marvin "Popcorn" Sutton (October 5, 1946 – March 16, 2009) was an American Appalachian moonshiner originally from Maggie Valley, North Carolina. He wrote a self-published autobiographical guide to moonshine production, and self-produced a home video depicting his moonshining activities, and he was later the subject of a documentary that won a Regional Emmy Award. He committed suicide in 2009 rather than report to Federal prison after being convicted of offenses related to moonshine production.

• from Obituary Of Marvin “Popcorn” Sutton, A Tennessee Moonshiner

Marvin got his nickname "Popcorn," during a baroom encounter with a pool cue and a popcorn machine, per his friends.

Timeline

• 1970s- 1st conviction of un-taxed liquor in the 1970's
• 1999-Marvin's autobiography "Me and My Likker" published
• 2007-History Channel featured on Documentary "Hillbilly, The Real Story"
• 2008-featured in Documentary "The Last One" by Neal Hutcheson
• 2009-Marvin's tragic death
• 2012-featured in the New York Times

"Popcorn Sutton's moonshining abilities didn't spontaneously appear. He is the product of generations of Suttons all working in a long line to protect and preserve the knowledge of the stills. The Sutton family name reaches back four centuries into American history .... " Word for Word: The notorious life of moonshiner Popcorn Sutton Tampa Bay Times, 2009

currently-

Marvin has become a Folk Figure, quite larger than Life. Chances are if you have not heard of him, you will. R.I.P. Marvin

Links

• Wikipedia, Popcorn Sutton blogspot, Popcorn Sutton YouTube playlist,